Course Meeting Times
Lectures: 3 sessions / week, 1 hour / session
Course Description
This course, along with 21F.107 / 21F.157 Chinese I (Streamlined) offered in the previous fall, form the elementary level of the streamlined sequence, which is intended for students who, when they began the sequence at beginning level, had basic conversational skills (gained, typically, from growing up in a Chinese speaking environment), but lacked a corresponding level of literacy. The focus of the course is on learning standard usage of expressions for everyday use, on reading in both traditional and simplified characters, and on writing.
Characters and Pinyin
Students are expected to be able to read texts written in either the full or simplified sets of Chinese characters, and are free to choose either one in writing.
Access Hanyu Pinyin for Mandarin Speakers any time for a guide to Pinyin.
Class
Classroom activities will include discussing the content of the texts, using the texts as the basis for short role playing and performance, practicing some of the relevant grammatical patterns, and almost daily quizzes.
Writing: You will be asked to learn a selection of the characters introduced in the lesson, not all of them. And you will be asked to learn to recognize both simplified and full form characters from memory. For writing, you may choose one, full form or simplified, as you prefer.
Grading
Grading criteria.
| ACTIVITES |
PERCENTAGES |
| Class Performance (attendance 5%, promptness 3%, preparedness 5%, and participation 12%) |
25% |
| Written Assignments |
25% |
| Bi-weekly Tests |
30% |
| Dictations and Vocabulary Quizzes |
10% |
| End-of-term Essay (A 2-page Double-spaced Typewritten Paper Using Microsoft® Word; 16-point Font.) |
10% |
A = 100-95; A- = 94-90; B+ = 89-87; B = 86-83; B- = 82-80; C+ = 79-76; C = 75-70; C- = 69-60; F = below 60
Attendance and promptness is assumed; more than three unexcused absences (a week's worth) lowers your grade one letter; significant lateness will add up to absences. Absences will count as excused ones only if you provide a doctor's note or a note from your academic advisor to the instructor.
Other factors may come in to play, e.g. improvement versus stagnation or deterioration over the course of the semester, and progress relative to starting level.
There are no make-ups for quizzes and tests. If you cannot make the quizzes on time, you should talk to the instructor to make arrangements for you to take the quizzes before your classmates do.
There is no final examination this term.
Homework handed in late will be corrected, but will receive no credit.
End-of-term Essay
Grading (10% of class grade)
-
Content: 5 points (convincing / enticing)
-
Degree of sophistication of the language: 3 points (when appropriate, incorporate the grammar, sentence patterns, and vocabulary into your essay)
-
Over-all structure: 2 points (pay attention to coherence and cohesiveness; make sure each paragraph has a focus and the paragraphs relate to one another in a logical way)
Due
By 4 pm, one day after Lec #38 to the instructors' offices. E-attachments accepted. E-submissions will be acknowledged by email. Early submissions are welcome.
Length
No less than 2 full double-spaced typewritten pages using Microsoft® Word with 16-point font and 1-inch margins, or no less than 5 full pages, using the calligraphy sheet in the related resources section.
Topic
You may choose from one of the following two topics.
Option 1: Cóng Zhōngguórén Zhòngshì de Pĭn'gé Kàn ZhōngGuó Wénhuà 從中國人重視的品格看中國文化 || 从中国人重视的品格看中国文化 Based on what you have learned from the book (you may also use examples in Vol. 1 of Dàxué Yuwén), summarize some of the characteristics of Chinese culture by looking at the qualities (=pin'gé) Chinese people value highly.
Option 2: Zhōngguórén Duì Shìjiè de Gòngxiàn 中國人對世界的貢獻 || 中国人对世界的贡献 Using examples from the book (you may also use examples from Vol. 1 of Dàxué Yuwén), write about the contributions Chinese have made to our world.
Advice on Approaching the Class
Engaging in a language class should not feel like a chore that you resent having to perform. If it does, you should probably do some serious thinking about why you are enrolled. A language, foreign or semi-native, is a discipline to be studied with attention and dedication. It requires a high level of concentration, and a systematic, steady approach. It is, in fact, a never-ending process, which involves a consistent accumulation of data (vocabulary) to be applied within a complex framework (grammar). As such, learning a language is often frustrating and so it should be dealt with patiently. But the results provide lifelong satisfaction. If you approach this course by wondering how little work you can do and still get by, or if you approach this course by thinking only about what grade you are getting instead of what you are learning, then you will not succeed. If, however, you approach this class with dedication and a positive attitude, I guarantee that you will be rewarded with the satisfaction that comes from the genuine acquisition of knowledge and skill.
